This replica of an Athenian gold stater is cast from the original coin and made of a tin alloy plated with 22-karat gold. The coin is housed in a transparent blister pack set into a cutout on the front of the fold-out case. The packaging is adorned with an image of the Acropolis; inside, both coins from this collection are featured, along with other Greek motifs. The set includes historical information about the coins as well as the rise and fall of the ancient Greek empire.
Historical Information
The original Athenian stater, on which this replica is based, was minted during the great siege of Athens in 296 B.C. from gold stripped from the statue of Athena in the Parthenon. The obverse depicts Athena, and the reverse features the Athenian owl.
Greece began to emerge from a dark age in the 8th century B.C. The ancient Greeks lived on the Greek mainland and islands, but as their population grew, they also settled in what is now Turkey and in colonies scattered along the Mediterranean coast. Greek settlements were found in Italy, Sicily, North Africa, and as far west as what is now France. Through their sea voyages in search of trade and new land, the Greeks spread their way of life to many regions.
A unified country called Greece did not exist at that time. Instead, there were small city-states, each with its own government. Sometimes they fought each other; other times they formed alliances. Among the largest were Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Olympia.
The Greeks created a way of life that other nations admired and imitated. The Romans, for example, adopted Greek art and deities. The ancient Greeks experimented with democratic government, founded the Olympic Games, and left behind significant ideas in the fields of science, art, and philosophy.
Alexander the Great intended to create a Greek empire encompassing most of the then-known world. However, he died in 323 B.C., and his empire was divided among rival generals. The resulting kingdoms preserved many elements of the Greek way of life, but eventually succumbed to the growing power of Rome.
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